Retractable vertical-axis propeller device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device for optional activation of a vertical-axis propeller to be configured on the lower surface of a marine vessel, said device comprises a vertical-axis propeller; a sliding means associated with the lower surface of the marine vessel and sliding the vertical-axis propeller; at least one slider that is associated with the vertical-axis propeller and is in sliding relation with the sliding means; and at least one driving means for driving the vertical-axis propeller in upwards and downwards in the sliding direction.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a collapsible device for a retractableor optionally activated vertical-axis (cycloidal) propeller beingsuitable for use in various vessels, in particular motor yachts.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In respect to direction of montage on a marine vessel, propellers canmainly be categorized into two groups, those with horizontal-axis (alongthe fore-aft direction) and those with vertical axis. Blades onvertical-axis propellers, also known as vertical-axis (cycloidal)propellers, make a full rotation around the rotation axis while theyrotate partially around their own axes. By virtue of this property,vertical axis propellers provide many functional advantages compared toconventional horizontal-axis propellers. For example, a marine vesselthrusted with a vertical-axis propeller has a 360-degree maneuveringcapacity during normal cruising. On the other hand, it is possible tocarry out a smooth parallel docking to the landing place. It alsoprovides stabilization against vessel rolling. They increase usercomfort due to low noise levels and enable the vessel to be held inposition on water and at the desired angle without anchoring.

However, it is difficult to have some of the above mentioned propertiesin vessels with horizontal-axis propeller while some are impossible. Forexample, stabilization against rolling of a vessel with ahorizontal-axis propeller can only be achieved with gyro-devices.Similarly, it is not possible to prevent vessel from going adriftwithout anchoring.

On the other hand, when vertical-axis propellers are designed to meetthe necessary thrust required for the desired accelerated or normalcruising of the vessel, they are relatively costly and their sizegenerally are increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to improve characteristics of amarine vessel with a horizontal drive propeller resulting from itsinteraction with water in a cost-effective manner.

To achieve this object, the present invention relates to a device foroptionally activating a vertical-axis propeller to be configured on alower surface of a marine vessel, characterized by comprising avertical-axis propeller; a sliding means associated with the lowersurface of the marine vessel and sliding the vertical-axis propeller; atleast one slider communicated with the vertical-axis propeller and beingin sliding relation with the sliding means; and at least one drivingmeans for driving the vertical-axis propeller upwards and downwards inthe sliding direction.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the device according to theinvention comprises a cover mounted on the bottom side of the slidingmeans, which can be opened/closed through its communication with thevertical-axis propeller. The lower surface of the said cover has a formcompatible with the lower surface of the marine vessel.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a marine vessel, preferably amotor yacht or boat, equipped with a horizontal propeller, the marinevessel comprises the abovementioned device according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the configuration and advantages of thepresent invention, along with its auxiliary elements, it should beevaluated with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded top perspective view of a device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded top perspective view of the device according tothe present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device according to the present inventionin a demounted state.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the device according to the present inventionin an assembled state, with the lower cover being in an opened position.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the device according to the present inventionin an assembled state, with the lower cover being in a closed position.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the device according to the presentinvention, with its upper portion being in an assembled state.

REFERENCE NUMBERS OF THE PARTS IN THE DRAWINGS

-   -   10 Vertical-axis propeller    -   11 Propeller hub    -   12 Upper surface of hub    -   13 Propeller gasket hole    -   14 Propeller blade    -   15 Propeller gasket    -   16 Coupling support    -   17 Pin    -   18 Roller    -   19 Roller opening    -   20 Propeller hub slot    -   30 Sliding housing    -   31 Sliding lower housing    -   32 Sliding upper housing    -   33 Sliding rail    -   34 Sliding groove    -   35 Upper flange    -   36 Lower cover    -   37 Lower cover coupling bar    -   38 Lower flange    -   39 Upper flange hole    -   40 Sliding rail hole    -   41 Upper housing hole    -   42 Lower housing hole    -   43 Upper surface of the lower cover    -   44 Lower surface of the lower cover    -   45 Lower flange hole    -   46 Coupling rod hole    -   47 Upper bolt of the coupling rod    -   48 Lower bolt of the coupling rod    -   50 Slider    -   51 Slider rail    -   52 Slider bracket    -   70 Driving unit    -   71 Motor    -   72 Drive gear    -   73 Transmission gear    -   74 Screw shaft    -   75 Driving rod    -   76 Coupling flange    -   77 Coupling plate    -   78 Coupling plate hole    -   79 Top cover    -   80 Cover hole    -   81 Motor shaft    -   82 Pivot bearing    -   83 Bearing hole    -   85 Lower portion of the marine vessel    -   86 Lower cover gasket

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The device according to the invention comprises in general avertical-axis propeller (10) as known in the art, a sliding housing (30)fixed to an opening in the lower portion of the marine vessel, a slider(50) that is slid into the said sliding housing (30) and associated withthe vertical-axis propeller (10), and a driving means (70) for drivingthe vertical-axis propeller (10) in a linear direction along its axis.

As known from the art, the vertical-axis propeller (10) comprises apropeller hub (11), a plurality of propeller blades (14) extendingdownwards from its lower surface vertically and a plurality of couplingsupports (16) extending upwards from the upper surface (12) or peripheryof the propeller hub (11). The propeller gasket holes (13) are providedaround the cylindrical propeller hub (11) for accommodating a pluralityof circular propeller gaskets (15). Since the vertical-axis propeller(10) is known in the art, the driving motor and mechanisms driving thepropeller blades are not disclosed herein.

The vertical-axis propeller (10) is disposed within a sliding housing(30) in cylindrical form, surrounded cylindrically from the outside, andthe vertical axis-propeller (10) can be moved back and forth (up anddown in the drawings) in an axial direction within this sliding housing(30), as will be explained below.

The sliding housing (30) preferably comprises of a circular slidinglower housing (31) and a circular sliding upper housing (32) for ease ofassembly and these are connected to each other with fasteners such asbolts that are passed through the upper housing holes (41) and the lowerhousing holes (42) that are opened at the periphery. A plurality ofsliding rails (33) (four of them are shown in the drawings) extendingvertically upward from the upper side of the sliding upper housing (32)are secured. The sliding grooves (34) which are extending longitudinallyare formed in each sliding rail (33) on their sides facing to thecenter.

On the lower side of the sliding lower housing (31), an upper flange(35) preferably having a diameter greater than that of this housing, anda lower flange (38) beneath and in axial distance thereto are provided.Said upper flange (35) and lower flange (38) include, respectively, aplurality of annular upper flange holes (39) and lower flange holes(45). Flanges are suggested for mounting the device according to theinvention on the lower portion of the marine vessel. Therefore, thelower surface of the upper flange (35) is positioned on the uppersurface of the lower portion of the marine vessel and the upper surfaceof the lower flange (38) is placed on the lower surface of the lowerportion of the marine vessel lower portion and they are assembled to themarine vessel through fasteners such as bolts.

A driving unit (70) is provided on the upper side of the device.Preferably, a hydraulic or electrical motor (71) is provided on theuppermost portion of driving unit (70). The motor shaft (81) isconnected to a drive gear (72) and the drive gear (72) transmits motionto a plurality of transmission gears (73) (three of them are shown inthe drawings). Screw shafts (74) extending downwards from the center ofeach transmission gear (73) are provided. Each screw shaft (74) isassociated with a driving rod (75) threaded along its axis to cooperatewith the screws of such screw shafts. Said screw shafts (74) are rotatedas the motor (71) is rotated in a direction (e.g. in clockwisedirection) and thus, the driving rods (75) can move forward in axialdirection. Similarly, when the motor is rotated in the other direction(counter-clockwise direction), the driving rods (75) can move backwardin axial direction.

Each driving rod (75) is connected to the hub's upper surface (12)through one coupling flange (76) provided on their lower ends. Drivinggear (72) and transmission gears (73) are closed by means of a top cover(79) at their upper sides. A cover hole (80) is provided at the centerof the top cover (79) for inserting the motor shaft. A coupling plate(77) is provided on the lower side of top cover (79) and screw shafts(74) are mounted into bearing holes (83) formed on the coupling plate(77) through the pivot bearings (82). Plate holes (78) are formed aroundthe coupling plate (77), and after the sliding rail holes (40) locatedon the upper portions of the sliding rails (33) are aligned with theplate holes (78), the sliding rails (33) are coupled to the couplingplate (77) through fasteners such as bolts.

A slider bracket (52) is fixed to the outside of each coupling support(16) of the vertical-axis propeller, and on their external sides, asliding rail (51) extending vertically is provided. Each slider rail(51) is mounted such that it is movable in longitudinal direction ineach sliding rail groove (34). Thus, as the vertical-axis propeller (10)is moved linearly in axial direction with the drive from the motor (71),it is slid by means of the sliding rail (33) and the slider rail (51).It comprises a roller opening (19) formed on the lower side of eachcoupling support (16) and facing the outer surface thereof. A roller(18) is attached to each opening by means of a pin (17). Each roller(18) protrudes outwards from the exterior surface of the support (16) towhich it is attached. This protruding portion of the roller is bedded bygrooves formed on the inner surface of the sliding lower housing (31)during the sliding.

A skilled person in the art will appreciate that a driving unit,comprising of a hydraulic piston mechanism, may be used instead of adriving unit consisting of the abovementioned gears. In this case, thepiston arm may be associated with hub's upper surface (12) and as thepiston moves forward, the vertical-axis propeller moves downwards(similarly, as the piston moves backwards, the vertical-axis propellermoves upwards).

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a circular-shapedlower cover (36) is disposed on the bottom side of device. Coupling rodholes (46) are formed on the upper surface of the lower cover (43) andlower cover coupling rods (37) extending upwards from the upper surfaceof the lower cover (43) are inserted into these holes by means ofcoupling rod lower bolts (48). The upper ends of the lower covercoupling rods (37) are associated with propeller hub (11) by means ofcoupling rod upper bolts (47). Thus, when the vertical-axis propeller(10) moves forward (downwards in the drawings), the lower cover (36) isopened and similarly, when the vertical-axis propeller (10) movesbackward (upwards in the drawings), the lower cover (36) is closed andis inserted into a slot (20) formed on the lower portion of thepropeller hub (11). Propeller gasket grooves are provided around thelower cover (36) for accommodating a plurality of lower cover gaskets(86).

As shown in FIG. 4, when the lower cover (36) is fully opened, thevertical-axis propeller blades (14) are positioned between the lowercover (36) and the lower flange (38), in which case the vertical-axispropeller (10) is ready to operate. The lower surface of the lower cover(44) has a form compatible with the lower portion of marine vessel (85).Thus, when the lower cover (36) is closed, a continuous surface form iscreated on the lower surface of the marine vessel.

The device according to the invention is especially suitable for use inmarine vessels at various sizes already equipped with a horizontalpropeller. In this case, the horizontal-axis propeller may bedeactivated and the vertical-axis propeller may be activated forparallel docking of the marine vessel to the landing place. Similarly,only the vertical-axis propeller may be activated for smooth/noiselesscruising. When the marine vessel reaches to relatively high speeds, e.g.20 mph or higher, the vertical-axis propeller may be retracted. Further,when it is used in a marine vessel, it may comprise two (or multiples oftwo) devices arranged symmetrically according to keel.

1. A device for optionally activating a vertical-axis propeller to beconfigured on a lower surface of a marine vessel, the device comprising:a vertical-axis propeller; a sliding means communicating with the lowersurface of the marine vessel and sliding the vertical-axis propeller; atleast one slider communicating with the vertical-axis propeller andbeing in sliding relation with the sliding means; and at least onedriving means for driving the vertical-axis propeller upwards anddownwards in the sliding direction.
 2. The device according to claim 1,said sliding means comprising at least one sliding rail having a slidinggroove.
 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least oneslider is moved in the sliding groove of the at least one sliding rail.4. The device according to claim 1, said driving means comprising amotor, a driving gear associated with the motor, a plurality oftransmission gears that are associated with the driving gear, at leastone screw shaft extending from the center of the transmission gears, anddriving rods which are threaded along their axis to cooperate with atleast one screw of the at least one screw shaft, and which areassociated with the vertical-axis propeller.
 5. The device according toclaim 1, the vertical-axis propeller comprising a plurality of couplingsupports extending upwards from a hub and a slider rail extendingvertically on an external side of each coupling support.
 6. The deviceaccording to claim 5, further comprising a roller (18) arranged on alower side of each coupling support (16) and facing to the outer surfacethereof.
 7. The device according to claim 1, said vertical-axispropeller comprising a vertical-axis propeller hub, and at least onepropeller gasket hole formed around the vertical-axis propeller hub foraccommodating a circular-shaped propeller gasket.
 8. The deviceaccording to claim 1, said sliding means comprising a lower side,wherein a lower cover is arranged on the lower side of the sliding meansand the lower cover is constructed and arranged to be opened/closed incommunication with the vertical-axis propeller.
 9. The device accordingto claim 8, further comprising at least one cover gasket (86) providedaround the lower cover (36).
 10. The device according to claim 1, saidmarine vessel further comprising a horizontal propeller.